BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears look to solidify their position in the Southern Conference standings when they visit the Samford Bulldogs in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Mercer (15-9) enters the Pete Hanna Center having won three straight, including a 50-45 road victory at East Tennessee State on Tuesday. The Bears have been led by a balanced attack, but guard Rania Curry has been a consistent contributor. She scored 14 points in a win over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 5 and added nine points and two blocks in the recent win at ETSU. Samford (10-16) snapped a four-game skid with a 68-64 home win over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 7. That victory was powered by a career-high 24-point performance from guard Frances Morris, who has emerged as a key offensive threat. Morris also posted 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in a win over Western Carolina on Feb. 5. This contest is a rematch of a Jan. 17 game in Macon, Georgia, where Mercer secured a 76-67 victory. In that game, the Bears used a strong team effort to overcome limited production from their stars; Curry and Morris each finished with just four points. The Bulldogs will aim to leverage home court advantage and the recent hot hand of Morris to split the season series. Samford’s conference record remains a struggle, but the team has shown resilience at home, winning two of its last three in Birmingham. For Mercer, maintaining its momentum on the road is critical as it pursues a top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Containing Morris will be a primary defensive focus, while the Bears will rely on their depth and recent winning formula to complete the regular-season sweep. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST as part of the Southern Conference schedule. Following this matchup, Mercer travels to face Wofford on Feb. 19, while Samford hits the road to play Furman the same day.